Monday, November 21, 2011

Learning Curve

My friend Lisa recently asked me to give her a little sewing lesson. I was super excited about it, because Lisa is always telling me that she's "not crafty." I think the only reason she's not crafty is because she's never tried to be! She's got a great sense of style, and she's one of those rare people who has a real appreciation for handmade items even though she doesn't actually make things herself. To me, that's a crafty girl who just hasn't been turned to the dark side yet. : )

So we sat down and made this pillow together. She shopped my stash for the fabric, and gravitated straight to this bold zig zag print that I recently picked up for bags and the like. Here's Lisa's finished pillow looking mighty happy in its new home on her sun porch.

I don't know if I'll turn Lisa into the sewing nerd that I am, but our little lesson got me thinking about the nature of "craftyness." I believe everyone has the capacity to be creative. But it's like so many other things in life—if you don't use it, you lose it. The more you flex your creativity muscles, the stronger you'll get at it. And I know everybody has the capacity to learn a technical skill like sewing. That just takes motivation and practice. (I won't lie—sometimes it takes a lot of practice.) In my mind, creativity + technical skill = craftiness. Therefore, everybody has the capacity to be "crafty." Yes, really.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more I believe it really comes down to motivation. If you truly want to learn how to sew (or knit, or decoupage, or whatever), there's nothing stopping you. So what are you waiting for? Get going!

I taught some friends to crochet when they were staying with me in summer. We all got so much pleasure from it - they learning, and me passing on my skills. I agree with Patchwork and play though - I have the skills to make something, but I don't feel I have the imagination to create something original - I tend to follow patterns.

great post! i think sometimes it's just finding your niche, too. i tried scrapbooking, card making, knitting...none of those stuck. the only thing that has is sewing/quilting. i was able to teach a friend some sewing basics, and gave her my old machine, and she loves it now! it's such a good feeling to have a hand in a friend's new-found passion.

I had so much fun making the pillow with you. Thanks again for taking the time to give me a lesson! It was, in my opinion, the perfect way to be introduced to sewing... Plus, I was able to spend time with one of my favorite people!

Oh it's definitely a motivational thing. I had a bear-making friend recently tell me she couldn't make a bag, as she didn't have the skills. I told her that anyone that could do the intricate curves and 3D work involved in a bear, could tackle a bag no bother at all! I'll probably still end up making her the bag though lol

Great post. Cute pillow. I mentor a 6th grader, and she and I made a pillow today. She was so excited to use the sewing machine, and even wanted to learn to do hand sewing -- and very happy with her finished pillow, red, aqua and white. She wants to sew at our next session, too. She said, "We both like to sew. And we're GOOD at it!"

Concerning my talent for sports: I'll never become an olympian nor a champion of any sport activity (and I'm unhappy about because my son is such a sportive man, he has the perfect body for any men's health cover). Even if he would motivate me, take me with him to walking, jogging or bodybuilding, having all the patience needed to get a couchpotatoe to exercises - I won't become a sports woman. I can accept it. I do that much which is fun - playing badminton, doing my yoga, hiking or a bit jogging. Couldn't it be the same with craft skills? - So I'm glad about every sewing companion who has fun and guess what: my sweetheart became one of my sewing buddies...

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